Index to Nigerian Newspapers

The three political actors in Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, are embroiled in a triangular political duel. Governor Ganduje has used tact, Abuja connection and power of incumbency to isolate his former benefactor from the governing All Progressives Congress (APC). In 2019, the outcome of the governorship poll showed that the incumbent escaped with a slim margin of victory, while Ganduje and his running mate polled 1, 033, 695 votes, Yusuf and his deputy, Aminu Abdussalam returned a total of 1, 024, 713 ballots. Kwankwao challenged the result in court. Governor Ganduje's attempt to sideline a former rival turned ally, Senator Shekarau, opened a new frontier of power play and provided an opening for a possible Shekarau and Kwankaso rapprochement. Kwankwaso regained his voice and presence in the political equation in the state, leading to speculation that he was on his way back to the governing APC. The former governor reinforced the rumour when he stated that his political future would be predicated on what becomes of the appeal.